FAIRHOPE, Ala. - The Baldwin County Department of Health has issued a public health advisory today, warning that swimming at the Fairhope Public Beach could "lead to an increased risk of illness." This at the start of Memorial Day weekend, which typically draws large numbers of people to the water.

The swimming advisory was issued following two successive tests of poor swimming water quality at the Fairhope beach, which exceeded EPA testing thresholds for marine water, according to a county health department news release.

"These samples are analyzed for enterococci bacteria. High counts indicate that the possibility that other disease causing germs could be present in the water. Based on EPA’s “Criteria for Bathing (full body contact) Recreational Waters”, samples are checked for enterococcus bacteria. These indicator bacteria are inhabitants of the intestines of humans and other warm-blooded animals. Bacterial concentrations in recreational waters can increase during and immediately following rainstorms due to overflowing sewage collection and treatment facilities, storm water run-off, malfunctioning septic systems and agricultural run-off," the news release stated.

No known sewage spills have occurred, although yesterday brought the area its first significant rain in a month. The site will be retested today, with the results of those tests available tomorrow, the release stated.